Method of classifying crushed ore and the like



19624, I 2 heets-s 1 April 12, 1927,

s. H. DOLBEAR ET AL METHOD OF CLASSIFYING CRUSHED' ORE AND THE LIKE Jan 5 April 12 1927.-

S. H. DOLBEAR ET AL METHOD OF CLASSIFYING CRUSHED ORE AND THE LIKE Filed Jan. 5. 1922 2 Sheets-Sheei 2 v 1 5 4 NW amnwtou Jflfflaibear, and

5. aszman.

Patented Apr. 12, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT. OFFICE.

SAMUEL I-I. DOLBEAR, 01'? SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, AND BYRON L. EASTMAN, OF

NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOBS, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO SELECTIVE TREAT- MENT COMPANY LIMITED, OF MONTREAL, CANADA, A CORPORATION OF QUEBEC,

CANADA.

METHOD OF CLASSIFYING- GRUSHED GEE AND THE LIKE.

Application filed January 5, 1522. Serial No. 527,164.

The present invention primarily relates to methods of classifying crushed ore and the like, and involves the treatment of crushed ores, rock, coal, gravel, sand, and similar substances and materials; and has more especial reference to the classifying of such substances and materials. a

The object of the invention is to effect a separation of particles of such substances and materials into divisions of substantially equal mass.

lVe are aware that it has heretofore been proposed to classify substances and materials, by (1) passing the same through upwardly-directed currents of water of low velocity; (2) by conveying settled particles upwardly along an inclined plane whlle overflowing the unsettled particles; and (3) by the use of spitzkasten through which the ore-pulp is passed, a series of such spitzkasten being sometimes employed to collect several products. The apparatus employed in connection therewith, however, depends upon the normal rate of settling of such particles in water. A modification of that type of apparatus is the so-called cone-classifier, in which a current of water is directed upwardly from the center of the cone to hinder the normal settling of the particles.

The present invention is predicated upon the discovery that a jet of fluidsuch as water, of relatively high velocity-as compared to currents which have heretofore ordinarily been usedmay be utilized to effect a classification, and may be projected over a body of relatively idle fluid, such as water, under conditions whereby the mate rials of greater mass are first removed and, then, separated from the lighter.

One object of our invention, based on the aforementioned discovery, is to effect the projection of one body of liquid under and in contact with another liquid body.

Another object is to effect the projection of one body of liquid through another.

Still another object is to effect the projection of a liquid body in an approximately horizontal direction.

A still further object is to introduce into the operation a centrifugal eifect.

Another object is to hinder the settlement of particles by a stream of liquid directed tain particles, due to their relative mass, may

and will gain greater downward acceleration than others, the particles having such downward acceleration entering a projected body of liquid.

Another object is to take advantage of the circumstance that, at the point where the particles enter the stream, their velocity is less in the direction of the stream than that of the stream itself.

Another object is to take advantage of the circumstance that particles of material will pass through relatively idle water into proected water while a part of the material passes into still water.

Another object of the invention is to take advantage of the circumstance that particles will descend into projected water at a oint where such water is approximately orizontal. A

Another object is to use a projected stream to accelerate particles at rates varying according to the relative mass of such particles. I

Another object is to direct a projected body of water against a surface to deflect or change its initial spouting direction.

Another object is to project a stream having its greatest velocity on one side with decreasing velocity toward the opposite side.

Another object of the invention is to effect a deflecting of projected water from an approximately horizontal plane upwardly to a region beyond its spouting point and utilizing its diminishing velocity for classifying the materials.

Another object is to underslice the stream of treating liquid, or effect the direction of a portion of the lower part of such stream, into relatively idle water.

Another object is to take advantage of the circumstance that, upon passing from projected water into relatively idle water beneath, the lighter particles of the mass are deposited farther forward in the direction of flow than the heavier particles thereof.

Another object is to effect contact of relatively idle vater With the side of anup-cast stream at one or more polnts 111 1135 course. Another object is to up-cast a stream so as to direct it into contact with a body of Water having relatively little motion and in closed circuit therewith and so circumscribed l invention involves, inter alia, means for it l on r i npro ting inp varying the head, velocity, depth, and spout- "f-ingle 'of a jet of fluid, such as water me .1 1 for introducing" the I material to be treatedigiine for advantageously utilizing ,aboveset forth for accomplishing the factoi's I j I classification of the materials treated j and \neaiisfor discharging the classified material after sulostantially varying the hydrostatichead in the treatment-bell and ithout set;

"adverse currents which ivouldjprtevent proper functioning' of these factors.

By the utilization of these factors, a close classification of materials maybe effected, and it hasjh-een founchin actual practice, that i d material classifying method ha sfc ta injimportant advantages over others heretofore practiced. LEOIQQYQT, by reason ofthe, fact that the velocity and depthof the induced jet may be increased or dimin; s ed at. will, l y r 11 6 con i' m a s, the meth lfma heutili zed forthe treatment of a Wide rangeof products, and Willn or-e successfully, and effectually classify coarser materi al s thanfw ll ny other of the classy fiers known'to Furthermore, ouni nethod etlectsa substantial saving'in power jovbr othertypes of classifiers, and maybe open ated' j entirely by f authruatic means. ll lord over, the s iouting an gle Wlfilllll of d ischa 175iing apertures, and other factors are readily controlledl a I j A Th6 ;ni-ethod herein contei'iiplated may be practiced in connec with any of a variety offtypesjof app" ratushut experience has slio wn that that illust ate d in the accompanylngdratv n s s pract'ical and succe lj fulyhencej ehee e semplify it in connection with the disclosure of our inventiveconcept ,l

In thes aw ng c, a H i c. Figure 1 is a view in vertical"longitudinal section (more or less diagrammatic) ofa preferred form of apparatus "for practicing oufflnijnioved method jand I y j y j 1 H ll iggfi is' aview of a modified. type of structure. j I I j j A ThisE afp 'ratusfvvhich as afo einenechn ai e'ofvarious forms,dimensions, and 'capafcityfessentially comprises a cell or containerl having side-Walls 25 a front-Wall 3 and an inclined bottom 4:.

Extending in parallelism With the bottom 4 is a division-Wall 5, upon the upper surface of Which is mounted a fluid-directing member orplate 6 hiclnat its lower end, is curvedyas shown.

Overlying and spaced apart'from the plate 6 is an adjustable fluid-directingmember or plate 7 having a curved lou 'ensurf'ac-e 8. The curved surfaces of the plates 6 and 7 are so related and dimensioned as to form a spout asat 9.

tum in their downwardtravel according to th-eir're'lative mass." lNater under sufficient head'isdeli'vered to a spaoeor passage 14-, formed between the plates 6 and Tythiough a pipe 15, it passes downwardly through the passage 14-, and it through the spout 9.

As ill' be'noted,t lie curved surface of the pla'testi and 7 will serveto turn the stream, f developed" through :5 the passage 14, into an approximately horizontal course suchstreau'i' leaves the spout 9, and it then travels tangentmore points 16 and 17 followingth'e directing influence of the spout'i).

The rutio'of the curve of thosuri'ace of thence, is projected plate Gis grez'itcrthan that of plate 7, and

thisisbecause the stream from the spouti) has asom'evvhat' greater velocity 'at point- 16 than at the point 17. Thema'terial to he treated will have entered the projected streaiiifaa 12 such due'to its "velocity; only i the" heavier particles of the material 'will pass 'tl'irough the streanii immediately. Some of the particles, upoirpassing-througlrthe stream, have a than otl'ieis th r1 mass and the z r-eater forward movement j rement-ioned vepai'ted to them by the stream. Those of? the greater'* nass" immediately dropthrori ha pa sage 18 into a chainher 19, While othe hare a greater for- 3 ward" motion and travel beyond the passage 18to"an opening-20 of an associateifl chamber 21. From these'chiiinhcrs 19 and 21, respectii' ely, the said niaterialis' discharged through ports aiidQEi, respectively; in the divisionall 5' thus resultingin two products of relatively different mass; sue-11pmtlcles as may still be retained by the Water,

being due to the differmentioned centrifugal effect pass into the chamber 26, thereby making a third product. This product is discharged through a port 27 into a passage 28 and is then handled in a manner presently to be explained.

The stream, still under considerable head, may retain some of the finer particles of the material; hence, we arranged to have this carried by the stream, alon a continued upward course indicated by the dotted lines C and C, through an opening 29 into chambers 30 and 31. These chambers are filled with water having relatively less motion than the stream, and are provided for reclassification of particles which have passed the opening of the chamber 26 but which are of too great mass to be readily overflowed from the cell. The particles, on dropping out of the stream on the discharge-side of the cell, sink toward the lower part of the chamber 31 which converges with the stream, and are re-engaged thereby. Ultimately, they either then sink into the chamber 26 or are overflowed from the chamber 31. The particles passing into the chamber pass downward toward the point of convergence of the stream where they are similarly reengaged and are then either overflowed or passed into the chamber 31 and ultimately delivered therefrom into the chamber 26.

To provide for the raising or lowering of the plate 6the curve of which is made constant by the guides 32 and 33 between which the plate is adjustably disposed-a screw-operated adjustment-device 34 is attached to the upper end of the plate. Its operation effects a predetermined adjustment of the plate 6.

Similarly, the plate may be relatively moved by an adjusting-device 35. For such adjustment, the plate is provided with a 1011' git-udinal slot 36 in which a pivot 37 worlrs. By operating the adjust-ingdevice 35, the plate 7 may be shifted longitudinally, the pivot 37 (moving in the slot 36) serving to guide the plate for such movement; or, the plate may be moved laterally upon the pivot 37.

The purpose of providing for the foregoing adjustments is to vary the depth of the stream, to vary the spouting-angles at 9, to vary the width of the aperture or opening 18, and to vary the angle of the upper surface of the plate 7 in respect to the member 6 for facilitating or retarding the feed or travel of the material along its surface.

The products discharged through the ports 22, 23 and 27, respectively, may be delivered into a sump 38 having the same hydrostatic head as the above-described classifying cell, and they may then be elevated from such sump by worm-conveyors, (not herein shown), elevators, or similar well-known means, or may be discharged from the sump through nozzles or spouts 39, 40 and 41, respectively, such sump being so arranged as to maintain a hyprostatic head therein as great or slightly greater than that of the cell itself. Under these conditions, the water necessary to discharge the settled products is supplied by a pipe 42, with the result that the classified material is discharged without lowering the level of the water in the classifier-cell, itself, or causing currents to pass through the chambers 19, 21 and 26, which currents would obviously be adverse to classification.

If desired, the lower edge of the plate 6 may be lowered slightly to underslice the projected water; that is, to divert a small part of the lower portion of the stream into the chamber 21. Similarly, the wall or plate 24 may be slightly depressed to divert a por, tion of the stream in the chamber 26. This would result in supplying water sufficient discharge the classified product Without setting up adverse currents or lowering the hydrostatic level in the cell.

It is to be understood that the apparatus herein specifically revealed is a very practical one for carrying our invention into ef fect; nevertheless, other suitable types of apparatus, embodying the same underlying features as those hereinabove pointed out, may be utilized; and, in the disclosed apparatus, changes may be made in various mechanical features thereof without departing from the spirit of the invention: For instance, as shown in Fig. 2, partitions 43 and 44 may be disposed in the chambers 19 and 21 t0 effect a further division of products; moreover, the chamber 24 may be divided by partitions 45 to effect a further division of the products deposited therein. Similarly, a series ofsuperposed chambers 46, 47 and 48 similar to the chambers 30 and 31-may be provided. In some instances, the chambers 30 and 31 may be combined into one chamber.

If it be found desirable to accentuate the difierence in the velocities of the liquid at various points in the stream, either horizontally or vertically, a plurality of jets 49 and 50 (Fig. 2) may be employed, one positioned above another, and situated at one or more points above the path of travel of the stream, such jets having equal or different velocities.

For the purpose of this disclosure, We

herein define crushed material as including roclgcoal, ore and; al other substances, the integral components, character :and size of Whiohare such that they maybe treated by the present method. wFiuch crushed material may eiristina sutl'icient state of subdivision to permit treatment by this method Without being actually crushed prior to the treatment thereby, as for example, sand, gravel, rock detritus, etc. Such sizeanay be five-tenths of an. incln in diameter or even larger, dependingmuipon. the depth and velocity otjet employed. Any suitable crushing.operation as a preliminary to utilizingour method, may 15" terial which consists in bringing the same into contact \vi tha jet of Water, then diverting the course of the jet upwardly: into contact with a body of relatively still Water, and then causing the projected Water to yield a part of its load by centrifugal effect.

2. The method of classifying crushed ma- .t-erial which consists in bringingthe same body of water having. relatively less motion and in closed circuit with the jet, whereby certain particles of the material pass. from the intothe body of Water anchthen are caused to be reengaged byjthe jet.

8. The method of: classifying crushedmatcrials which consists in depositing thesame in a body of relatively idle Water superposed above. and in contact with a jet of Water having an approximately horizontal course, the jet being superposed above and in. contact- With a second body of idle Water; causing certain of the materials to pass into the second body of relatively idle WVR-tQI'; subsequen-tly deflectingthe jet upwardly to cause a cen-tritugal effect; bringing the jet into contact With a third body of relatively. idle water to cause certain of the materials tobe deposited therein by centrifugal effect; subsequently bringing the jetot' wvater into contact with a body of Water having relatively less motion than the jet and in closed circuit therewith; causing certain of the materials to pass. from the jet into the latter body of Water and to be subsequently res-engaged by the jet; and overflowing ther jet.

In testimony whereof We aft-ix oursignatures.

SAMUEL H.--DOLB,EAlR. BYRON L. EASTMAN. 

